What is typically a night dedicated to music’s biggest achievements became a platform for pointed political statements Sunday as Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish used their Grammy Awards speeches to call out the Trump administration’s immigration operations, drawing loud reactions inside Crypto.com Arena and swift attention online.
Bad Bunny, accepting the award for Best Música Urbana Album, opened his speech with a declaration that immediately set the tone for the night.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out,’” the Puerto Rican superstar said, prompting applause from parts of the audience.
He continued by emphasizing the humanity of immigrants, saying they are not “animals” or “aliens,” but people deserving of dignity and respect. The remarks echoed themes the artist has previously woven into his music and public appearances, particularly around immigration and Latino identity.
“We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he continued.
Later in the ceremony, Billie Eilish added her own voice to the moment while accepting Song of the Year. In a brief but pointed statement, Eilish referenced the country’s history and immigration enforcement, declaring that “no one is illegal on stolen land.” A sharper remark directed at ICE was partially censored during the broadcast, but was clearly understood by viewers and those in attendance.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said in her acceptance speech. “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just, I feel really hopeful in this room.”
“And I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting and our voices really do matter, and the people matter,” she continued. “Fuck ICE.”
The back-to-back moments transformed the Grammys into an unexpected flashpoint in the broader cultural debate over immigration policy, especially as enforcement actions and political rhetoric have intensified nationwide.
Olivia Dean, fresh off a win for best new artist, also praised immigrant families in her acceptance speech early in the night. It was the first statement of the official award show.
“I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” Dean said. “I wouldn’t be here — I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. … We’re nothing without each other.”
Reactions were swift. Supporters praised both artists for using one of the largest stages in entertainment to speak out, applauding what they described as courage and solidarity with immigrant communities. Critics, meanwhile, accused the performers of politicizing an awards show meant to celebrate music.
Neither the Recording Academy nor ICE immediately commented on the remarks.
The Grammys have long served as a venue for artists to make political statements, from speeches addressing racial justice to calls for gun reform and LGBTQ rights. Sunday night’s comments underscored how deeply immigration has entered the cultural conversation — and how willing some of the industry’s biggest stars are to confront it publicly.
As the ceremony moved on to its next award and performance, the speeches lingered as one of the night’s defining moments, ensuring that the 2026 Grammys would be remembered not only for who won, but for what was said.
